Study in Leiden

Leiden is considered to be a university city with the oldest and best universities being located here. The city is small in size when compared to cities like Amsterdam and hence it also seemingly has a larger student population residing mostly in the center of the city. The place is known for having entertainment options ranging from coffee shops to bars and clubs which make students enjoy their stay in the city apart from studying for the most part.

The city is rich with cultural and historical heritage and contains 14 museums and other historical sites that candidates will be able to visit. The most famous aspect of the city is the Leiden University which is easily the oldest in the country and holds its reputation for the programs it offers in science and arts. The city is also known for its safety and the quality of living it offers to the people who stay there.

Benefits of Studying in Leiden

The benefits of studying abroad for any course depend upon the exposure the candidate will get while attending the particular course and staying in the city of their choice. Candidates who choose to study in the Netherlands will be able to visit the different scenic locations in the city and even explore the flea markets. A few of the benefits of studying in Leiden include-

• The universities in Leiden are the oldest in the country and also offer the best quality education in the fields of business, psychology, and even social sciences.
• The place is home to international students and tourists who come from different parts of the world and hence offers candidates a multicultural atmosphere that they will be able to learn from.
• Candidates will be able to immerse themselves in the culture of the place and also learn the Dutch language if they keep at it. This will be an added benefit for candidates since they will be able to add it to their resume and gain an edge in the international job market.
• Candidates will be able to create wide networks by befriending their peers who come from different nationalities. This will especially be beneficial if they have taken a business or management-related program.

Places to Live in Leiden

Leiden, like other popular cities in Ireland, has a large student population which implies that there are localities in which international students flock over. This is mainly due to the comparatively low accommodation rates and entertainment options that these places offer along with the ease of commuting to their respective universities. A few of the most commonly chosen locations for students to reside in are-

• Haarlemmerstraat - This place is located in the Dutch city of Leiden and is known for being a shopping street with both affordable and expensive options to choose from. It is a place where a large number of students reside and hence is considered to be a safe space for international students. Haarlemmerstraat has a no-car policy due to it being a shopping street. It is also within the reach of all three universities in Leiden.
• Leiden Centrum- This is the central part of Leiden where most students reside due to the relative closeness to all universities and entertainment options within the city. This place has the largest number of coffee shops, bars, and restaurants along with scenic locations that are close by. The cost of accommodation here is affordable for students and candidates who cannot afford apartments will be able to find student accommodations on a large scale within this area.
• Stevenshof- This place is not a popular spot for students to reside in since it is a little farther away from places like the Centrum but if the candidate wishes to live in a place that is calm and quiet and does not have a large number of the student population, then this is the place for them. The place is a 10-minute bike ride away from the center and hence is still close to the universities even without having to use public transport. The place is also comparatively cheaper than the central locations of the city.

Cost of Living in Leiden

The cost of living in Leiden is considerably lower than the cost of living in cities like Amsterdam and is estimated to be an amount of €900 for a single person without including rent. The most common aspects that students will have to spend money on while living in a new city include accommodation expenses and daily utilities including groceries and electricity. While cities like Amsterdam are highly expensive, Leiden can be considered affordable for candidates though it does fall on the expensive side.

Accommodation and Utility Expenses

Accommodation rates can fall anywhere between €350 to €1,000 depending on the location and size of the apartments. Candidates who wish to live within the city center will have to pay an amount above €1,100 for a 1 bedroom apartment while those who choose to stay outside of the center will have to pay around €800 for the same. Most often candidates choose to share apartments or get student accommodations within the city that are more affordable.

Candidates will have to pay an amount above €100 for electricity every month depending on the usage.

Grocery Expenses

Grocery items are relatively cheaper in Leiden when compared to other cities in the Netherlands with candidates being able to save a lot of money if they visit Saturday food markets instead of hypermarket chains in the city.

The price for local grocery items is-

• Milk- €0.96 per liter
• Cheese- €11.13 per 500gm
• Potatoes- €1.13 per kg
• Onion- €1.04 per kg
• Apples- €2.42 per kg

Transportation Expenses

Since bicycling is the most common form of transport used within the city, candidates will have to invest only once for the transportation apart from which they will be able to use public transportation.

Popular Programs in Leiden

The most popular programs in Leiden include-

Program	Where to Pursue
MBA	Webster Leiden Campus
Psychology	Leiden University
Economy	Leiden University
Business	Webster Leiden Campus
Computer Science	University of Applied Sciences

Top Universities in Leiden

The famous universities in Leiden are-

Leiden University

This university was established in the year 1575 and is a public research university with a student population of around 30,000 students and 1,300 academic staff. They have seven faculties they specialize in with over 50 departments in different fields of study. They offer undergraduate, postgraduate, and research programs and are most popular for the programs of social science. The campus also offers non-degree programs to candidates.

Webster Leiden Campus

The Webster Leiden Campus was established in the year 1915 and offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs to candidates. They offer programs in both sciences and arts including subjects like management, psychology, and international business along with business administration. The MBA programs they offer are internationally acclaimed.

University of Applied Sciences Leiden

This is a vocational university which was established in the year 1994. It offers courses in both English and Dutch. The university has a population of over 12,000 students and over 700 academic staff. They offer associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees in the fields of health, social work, and applied psychology along with management, business, and technology.

Entertainment Options in Leiden

Leiden is a small city with respect to size but the city still holds a lot of historical and cultural sites that students will be able to visit at all times of the day. The place is also filled with bars, restaurants, and coffee shops which students will be able to explore amidst their studies. A few of the entertainment options include-

Places to visit in Leiden

A few of the places that people can visit while in Leiden are-

• National Museum of Antiquities- This is an archaeological museum in Leiden that began as the collection made by the Leiden University and is also known as the National Center for Archaeology. The collections they have are mainly on ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, etc., and ranges from prehistoric times to Medieval times. It is visited by history and archaeology enthusiasts along with people who wish to understand the history of the Netherlands better.
• Hortus Botanicus- This is one of the many botanical gardens in the Netherlands but is also the oldest of the lot. It is located near the Leiden Observatory building and has over 10,000 different varieties of plants and a few varieties of bird species. It is a spot chosen by tourists, locals, and students as a place to regain inner peace especially as a distraction from the busy city life.
• Pieterskerk- This is one of the oldest churches in the city which dates back to the 1300s. It is believed that this is the place where the Pilgrims attended the mass during ancient times and hence is a tourist attraction for both religious and historical reasons. The church has been built in a late-Gothic style which also makes it an architectural masterpiece. This church is also known as the church of the Pilgrim Fathers.

Things to Do in Leiden

A few of the things that candidates can do while in Leiden are

• Visit Flea and Street Markets- Leiden has a few many streets dedicated for shopaholics including De Markt and Haarlemmerstraat where candidates will be able to find all kinds of accessories and clothes they will ever need. Candidates must also visit the Saturday markets which will offer them the best prices for all grocery items. The Saturday markets are supposed to be a feast to the eyes even if one is not planning to buy anything.
• Explore the Wall Poems- The city of Leiden has a culture of having poetry written on walls in perfect calligraphy. This is one of the popular attractions of the place. The poems will be written in different languages and will cover various themes. The city has over 110 poems written in different locations and most people never end up seeing it all. Exploring the wall poems can be a task that international students can sign up for.
• Visit the Brown Bars- There are plenty of brown bars in Leiden which are mostly found only in Belgium and the Netherlands. These are cafes with a brown and blue aesthetic with bricks incorporated into the structure aesthetically. Such places are best for students irrespective of whether they need a beer or a cup of coffee and are also ideal locations for students who wish to read in silence.